Whether your dog is a canine Einstein or a bit of a slacker, he needs physical and mental stimulation. After all, most dogs were bred for specific jobs, like hunting, retrieving, guarding the home, or carting heavy loads. Many dogs today are tasked with nothing more challenging than taking a walk, pointing at the treat jar, or taking the best space on the sofa. And bored dogs can sometimes become destructive dogs.
You can energize, entertain, and stimulate your dog by offering interactive dog toys such as puzzles. Puzzles often have treats inside, and your dog’s challenge is to figure out how to get to the treat. A puzzle also requires them to remember how it works and what skills they need to “win.” For your dog, solving a puzzle in order to get a reward puts him to work and engages his mind. And an engaged, busy dog is a happy dog.
Puzzle toys come in different levels of difficulty, different sizes, shapes, and prices. See if your dog is up to the challenge!
TRIXIE Dog Activity Flip Board
There are treats in there somewhere, and your dog must figure out how to open the compartments by lifting flaps and sliding covers. There’s so much variety that this dog puzzle should entertain even the most clever dog.
Fill the chambers with treats and watch your dog nuzzle and paw to get his reward. You can even make it harder or easier, depending on how intelligent your dog is. All he has to do is spin to win!
Rocking Treat Dispenser Dog Toy
This rocking treat dispenser dog toy is designed to stay upright, so treats don’t just fall out, and your dog will have to work for rewards. The rocking sound helps keep him entertained during his quest.
Nina Ottosson is renowned for her ingenious interactive dog toys, like the Dog Tornado. It has various spinning levels and 12 treat chambers, guaranteeing your dog will have to use some brain power to get a reward. You can make it even more challenging by adding the blockers.
Nina Ottosson’s Interactive Dog Toy
Another really clever puzzle from Nina Ottosson! Your dog has to move the sliders to figure out which ones hide the treats. You can start him off easy and make the puzzle more challenging as he figures it out.
Outward Hound Nina Ottosson Puzzle Toy
With several different ways to retrieve treats, this dog puzzle should keep your pup happily entertained. It’s designed especially for small and medium-size dogs.
ZippyPaws X-Large Burrow Log and Chipmunks Squeaky Toy
Treats aren’t the only thing that can get your dog going. Some dogs can entertain themselves for hours with squeaky toys. This interactive toy adds a challenge because your dog has to dig out the squeaky chipmunks from the log. Great for large dogs.
This is a completely different type of puzzle toy—one that encourages your dog to use his innate sense of smell and foraging abilities. He’ll have to “hunt” for food just like he would in nature. As a bonus, it’s made of upcycled materials and is machine washable.
Your dog will be stimulated and challenged by puzzle toys as they offer solo playtime and a chance for bonding between you and your canine friend. You get the chance to teach him how the puzzle works and play along by adding treats or changing the difficulty level. And of course, we all know how entertaining it is to watch a happy dog at play!
The AKC is here to help owners with questions and concerns about COVID-19 and dogs. Find answers to your questions, plus at-home activity ideas, training tips, educational resources, and more on our Coping With COVID-19 hub.